This is the class blog for Eng 1102 at GA Tech called "Fiction, Human Rights, and Social Responsibility." The purpose of this blog is to extend our discussion beyond the classroom and to become aware of human rights issues that exist in the world today and how technology has played a role in either solving or aggravating them. Blogs will be a paragraph long (250 words) and students will contribute once every three weeks according to class number. Entries must be posted by Friday midnight.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Guantánamo Causes Failing Pride in the Law

The United States judicial system prides itself on
long-standing traditions of due process and fair trials. These traditions
compose a stable foundation of faith in the system, and this faith is held
close by a majority of the country’s population. But there are times when these
traditions are compromised and neglected, causing country-wide faith to come
crashing down.

Recent reports have come from Guantánamo,
indicating a breach in attorney-client confidentiality. Listening devices
disguised as spoke detectors have been identified in the rooms in which defendants
accused of involvement in the terrorist acts of 9/11 speak with their
attorneys. Not only is this strictly illegal under United States law, but it
betrays any trust a defendant has in the judicial system. Most in Guantánamo
are already skeptical of the fair nature of the treatment they receive; all
trust shatters when a person cannot maintain faith in the law.

Authorities claim the
listening devices were not used for any purpose beyond listening to authorized
conversations legally, such as a “discussion among a detainee, the prosecutor,
and defense lawyers who were discussing a possible plea deal.” However,
the rooms in which attorneys speak with their clients were still bugged, and
the potential to listen in on these confidential conversations cannot be
ignored.

The terrorist attacks of 9/11
have long since spread fear of conspirators and future attacks. However, the
actions often taken in response have serious negative consequences. President
Obama vowed early in his first term that Guantánamo would soon be
closed. However, the detainment facility still remains open, unable to release
even cleared prisoners. Many more are slated to permanent detainment, without a
positive outlook on possible future release.

This horrific disregard of United States law has potential
to cause a devastating ripple. It is a display of the country’s willingness to
selectively apply the law. Other countries will observe this and regard it as a
precedent to future similar occurrences. If the United States wishes to
maintain its unwavering pride in the judicial system, it must recognize the
travesties occurring and aggressively rectify them before it is too late.